DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES Division of State Fire ...

1 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES Division of State Fire Marshal Bureau of Firefighter standards & training FIRE OFFICER PROGRAM Date: November 25, 2015 Division of the State Fire Marshal ( Division ) has updated the Fire Officer program. This is an advanced training and certification program designed for firefighters having supervisory and management responsibilities. The foundation of this program is based on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1021 Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications (2009). The Division now recognizes four levels of Fire Officer; Fire Officer I, II, III, and IV. This is a voluntary program. Applicants who meet the job performance requirements, demonstrate requisite skills, and possess the requisite knowledge set forth in subsection , are qualified to receive the respective Fire Officer Certificate of Competency from the Division . Additionally, recipients of a Florida Fire Officer certification may qualify for National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualification (Pro Board) certification.

2 This Fire Officer Program recognizes key consensus standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1021 Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications; the National Fire Academy Fire and Emergency SERVICES Higher Education (FESHE) initiative; the International Association of Fire Chief s Officer Development initiative; and the accreditation standards of the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board). THE BUREAU OF FIREFIGHTER standards & training AT The Florida State Fire College 11655 NW Gainesville Road Ocala Florida 34482-1486 Page 2 of 21 Fire Officer I I. Program Overview The Division defines a Fire Officer I as a person having the responsibilities of a Company Officer who supervises a single fire suppression unit or small administrative group within a fire DEPARTMENT . The Fire Officer I may also be referred to as a Supervising Fire Officer.

3 II. Certification Requirements Applicants for certification as a Fire Officer I shall submit Form DFS-K4-1447 Application for Fire Officer I Certification , and Form DFS-K4-2106, Fire Officer I Task Book , to the Bureau of Fire standards and training (Bureau) within the Division . Application can also be completed online at If the applicant documents compliance, the Division shall issue the certificate. To qualify for certification as a Fire Officer I, the applicant shall: Possess an active Firefighter Certificate of Compliance issued by the Division or have met the curriculum requirements for Firefighter Part I as defined in (1) Meet the job performance requirements of NFPA 1021 - Fire Officer I (2009). Complete the Fire Officer I Curriculum. Complete the Fire Officer I Task Book with required signatures. Pass the Fire Officer I Exam with a score of 70% or higher. Complete the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation course titled Courage to Be Safe or a course determined by the Division to be equivalent.

4 III. Curriculum The Fire Officer I curriculum includes coursework determined by the Division to support the professional development of a Supervising Fire Officer. Fire Officer I Curriculum Course Title Minimum Hours Building Construction for the Fire Service 45 Company Officer 45 Fire Service Course Delivery 45 Firefighting Tactics and Strategy I 45 IV. Completing the Application Applicants should evaluate their eligibility as set forth in paragraph (2) (a) and submit Form DFS-K4-1447 Application for Fire Officer I Certification to the Bureau. Complete all sections of the application. Attach the completed DFS-K4-2106 Fire Officer I Task Book and a copy of course completion certificates or official academic transcript that lists requisite courses. Application can also be completed online at THE BUREAU OF FIREFIGHTER standards & training AT The Florida State Fire College 11655 NW Gainesville Road Ocala Florida 34482-1486 Page 3 of 21 Note: Effective July 1, 2013, certification courses must appear on student s Course History at V.

5 Task Book The Fire Officer I Task Book provides the applicant an opportunity to demonstrate key job performance requirements while working in their respective organization. This task book is an evaluative tool designed to document that a candidate has demonstrated certain requisite skills required to meet a specific NFPA 1021 job performance requirement. Selected skill objectives in the task book are a supplement to the student learning outcomes and objectives met by successfully completing the Fire Officer I program curriculum. The applicant is responsible for the maintenance, completion, and submission of this document, including obtaining the required signatures. The evaluator is a direct supervisor, training officer or person designated by Fire Chief or Agency Head who is responsible for overseeing the performance or activity of the candidate. The evaluator documents first hand observation of the requisite skills of candidate, and attests by signature when task(s) has been demonstrated.

6 Evaluator must sign and enter their Florida Instructor ID Number (or Florida Fire Officer Certification Number if evaluator does not have Instructor ID) on this form. The Division shall designate an alternate evaluator independent of the candidate s employing Fire Service Provider at the request of the candidate. This alternate evaluator shall be a Florida Certified Fire Officer and Florida Certified Instructor. VI. Exam The Fire Officer I Exam is a randomly generated 100 question test. Exam questions are developed and referenced to the subject, content, and learning objectives in the Company Officer course and are matched to the NFPA 1021 Fire Officer I job performance requirements. A person is eligible to take the Fire Officer I Exam upon successful completion of the required coursework, application, and task book. VII. Transition to Fire Officer I (2013) The Division last updated the Fire Officer I and Fire Officer II programs in 2000.

7 If you currently hold a Fire Officer I Certificate of Competency issued by the Division , you are not required to take any action. Your Fire Officer I certificate does not expire. Individuals may elect to update their Fire Officer I certificate to the 2013 edition. The new edition will begin to be issued upon the effective date of the rule. If you desire to transition to this new edition, you should follow the same application process as noted above. THE BUREAU OF FIREFIGHTER standards & training AT The Florida State Fire College 11655 NW Gainesville Road Ocala Florida 34482-1486 Page 4 of 21 VIII. Course Equivalency The Bureau will approve any course which meets the job performance requirements, student learning outcomes, and student objectives of a course required in this program curriculum. Requests for course equivalency approval shall be submitted in writing to the Bureau, 11655 North West Gainesville Road, Ocala, Florida 34482-1486.

8 The following factors will be used to determine course equivalency: course title, course grade or record of course completion, number of academic credits earned, course hours attended, course description, course syllabus, student learning outcomes, and course objectives. All requests for course equivalency shall include, at a minimum: 1. Name of course; 2. Passage scores and rates; 3. An educational agenda or syllabus; 4. Required number of classroom hours; 5. Description of the course objectives, student learning outcomes, or job performance requirements covered. THE BUREAU OF FIREFIGHTER standards & training AT The Florida State Fire College 11655 NW Gainesville Road Ocala Florida 34482-1486 Page 5 of 21 Fire Officer II I. Program Overview The Division defines a Fire Officer II as a person having the responsibilities of a Company Officer whose duties include supervising a multi-unit emergency incident.

9 The Fire Officer II may also be referred to as a Managing Fire Officer. II. Certification Requirements Applicants for certification as a Fire Officer II shall submit Form DFS-K4-1448 Application for Fire Officer II Certification , and Form DFS-K4-2107, Fire Officer II Task Book , to the Bureau. Application can also be completed online at If the applicant documents compliance, the Division shall issue the certificate. To qualify for certification as a Fire Officer II, the applicant must: Possess an active Firefighter Certificate of Compliance issued by the Division or have met the curriculum requirements for Firefighter Part I as defined in (1) Possess an active Fire Officer I Certificate of Competency issued by the Division . Meet the job performance requirements of NFPA 1021 - Fire Officer II (2009). Complete the Fire Officer II Curriculum. Complete the Fire Officer II Task Book with required signatures.

10 Pass the Fire Officer II Exam with a score of 70% or higher. Complete the prerequisite course titled ICS-300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents or a course determined by the Division to be equivalent. Complete the Florida State Fire College Florida State -Wide Emergency Response Plan (SERP) course. Complete the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation course titled Courage to Be Safe or a course determined by the Division to be equivalent. III. Curriculum The Fire Officer II curriculum includes coursework determined by the Division to support the professional development of a Managing Fire Officer. Fire Officer II Curriculum Course Title Minimum Hours Fire Service Course Design 45 Firefighting Tactics and Strategy II 45 Fire Prevention Practices 45 Private Fire Protection Systems I 45 THE BUREAU OF FIREFIGHTER standards & training AT The Florida State Fire College 11655 NW Gainesville Road Ocala Florida 34482-1486 Page 6 of 21 IV.